Lesson Spotted is a blog which chronicles the many ways in which everyday activities interact with my teaching. From seeing historical figures addressed in courses I've already taught to getting inspiration from archival materials, public spaces, and popular culture, I'm constantly reminded of the classroom as I'm going throughout my day. When I'm in the archive, I think, "How can I show this to students?" When I see a familiar name on a park or street, I wish I could share the view with former students to show them the lasting legacy of the people they've learned about. Lesson Spotted is a place for me to record and share the "lessons" I've "spotted" out in what we often think of as the "real world," (everything outside of the classroom space) and try to show the ways in which these spaces are and should be intertwined.
Where did Lesson Spotted come from?
Lesson Spotted began when I was traveling for research in the fourth year of my PhD program. As I made my way through Boston and Hartford, I found a variety of public places named after historical figures that my former students had not only learned about but also played the roles of in Reacting to the Past games as part of my courses. I wished that I had a way to share the things I found with them without inundating them with messages from their former instructor. A blog format seemed like a perfect solution-- readers could opt to check the blog or not depending on their interest, and even send in things for me to share if they liked. As I began to plan out the project, I quickly realized that a broader theme about the relationship between teaching and everyday life was an exciting and more sustainable idea.It would serve my interest in highlighting the relationship between the things we learn and the things we do and see in the "real world" (a phrase both inaccurate and indispensable).
What is Reacting to the Past (RTTP)?
Reacting games place students in the roles of historical figures making decisions about past events. Each game forces students to understand the objectives of their character and their relation to the group, and use this knowledge to influence the outcome of events. So far, I have used two Reacting Games as part of HIST 102B: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson and Greenwich Village, 1913. My reflections here are heavily informed by RTTP and its shakeup of traditional classroom dynamics. More about Reacting to the Past can be found at the official RTTP website, or you can see me, some of my students, and other U of I Reactors talk about it in this short video.
Who are you?
I'm Leanna Duncan, PhD. I'm passionate about teaching, faculty development and support, and the myriad ways that learning can happen. (Have a look at some highlights of things I've done if you'd like!)
My dissertation research focused on the movement for children with orthopedic disabilities in the first half of the twentieth century, and I'm broadly knowledgable about disability and accessibility, US history, gender and sexuality, and the history of medicine and public health.
You can find various options to learn more about me below or on the right sidebar:
